King Solomon Research Paper

Before the United Kingdom Period, Israel had no true king but God had a plan for the people of Israel and soon the Israelites would be faced with being ruled over by three different important figures: Saul, David, and Solomon. During the United Kingdom period, Israel wanted a king. The first king to rule over during this period was king Saul, the people of Israel were more focused on Saul physical features rather than Saul’s obedience toward God. Following Saul, King David enters into the story and he is favored by God. Finally, the United Kingdom Period ends with King Solomon and Solomon deals with disobedience and the consequences that come from not listening to God’s words and guidance.

Saul came from the tribe of Benjamin and was seen

According to the book Old Testament: Text and Context, it claims that “The narrative of Solomon’s reign is not as complete or well developed as the narrative of David’s reign” (Matthews, V. H., & Moyer, J. C, 2012, p.99). While King David was becoming sick, the question of who would take the throne after him came to be answered. According to the bible, “I [David] will surely carry out this very day what I swore to you by the Lord, the God of Israel: Solomon your son shall be king after me, and he will sit on my throne in my place” (1 Kings 1:30, NIV). Solomon takes the throne after his father king David dies. Solomon comes to be king and ask the Lord for wisdom in which God gives him because he does not ask for what many others kings ask for. Though God gave Solomon wisdom which in turns brings him many great things, for Solomon still fails to listen to the word of God when God warns him to not worship other Gods. Solomon soon starts to commit sin and this is shown in the verse that states, “Although he had forbidden Solomon to follow other gods, Solomon did not keep the Lord’s command” (1 Kings 11:10, NIV). Because Solomon allowed others to influence to turn his back to God, God had another plan for the land of Israel, and as a result of Solomon sin God tells this Solomon in the 1 Kings, “So the Lord said to Solomon, “Since this is your attitude and you have not kept my covenant and my decrees, which I commanded you, I will most certainly tear the kingdom away from you and give it to one of your subordinates” (1 Kings 11:11, NIV). Even though Solomon had success the narratives focused more on how Solomon sins of worshipping false Gods and his son Rehoboam eventually led to the division of the Kingdom and is played out in 2